At the same time that the so-called national revolution swept through the entire China with the momentum of a prairie fire, the international situation was also in the midst of a thousand changes. Today, the center of international politics is at the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris, where a World War I spoils conference known as the "Paris Peace Conference" is being held.

On the surface, the Paris Peace Conference in this time and space does not seem to have much to do with China. The representatives of the National Government, which was in the process of taking power in the country, were not invited by Britain and France, and naturally did not come to Paris. The delegation sent by the Beiyang government, headed by Foreign Minister Cao Rulin, put forward at the Paris Peace Conference two demands: abolishing certain unequal treaties and recovering Germany's rights and interests in Shandong. The former was naturally resolutely opposed by Britain and France, and the latter ****??Is there still a monthly pass for the 243rd deadly gold of Britain, France and Japan? Nothing has been said!

At present, Britain and France and Japan have already turned their faces because of the "Vladivostok Incident", and of course Britain and France will not support Japan on the Shandong issue, but they are also unwilling to express their support for China. Because they also knew that the Nationalist Government would soon replace the Beiyang Government in ruling China, and that this Nationalist Government now had equally bad relations with Britain and France.

As for Japan, they are actually ready to give up their claim to Shandong. It is not because they have discovered their conscience, but because of the hostile policy adopted by Britain, France, the United States, and the Russian GCD, which is about to rule Russia, towards Japan, if it had been at odds with China because of the Shandong issue, Japan would have fallen into total isolation. This is inconsistent with the current national policy of "winning 10 years of peace." However, they did not intend to make concessions to the impending collapse of the Beiyang government of China, but hoped to use the Jiaoji Railway and Qingdao controlled by the Japanese Hon. And they used the concession within the customs of China as a bargaining chip to conclude an alliance treaty with the Nationalist Government, while at the same time maintaining their privileges in Manchuria!

And Cao Rulin, the foreign minister of the Beiyang government, did not actively open the 243rd deadly gold and still have a monthly pass? What kind of diplomatic mediation. Instead, he was messing around with the idea of being a monk for a day and hitting the clock for a day, just waiting for Beijing to be captured by the Nationalist Revolutionary Army, and he, the chief diplomat, could step down and go into exile. It's just that he would never have imagined that under the table of the Paris Peace Conference, which seemed to have little to do with China, there was a diplomatic conspiracy aimed at dividing the relations between China, Japan, Russia (Soviet Russia) and that it was secretly brewing. The reason why it is a conspiracy is because the bait used to lure the national government of China into taking the bait is too sweet and delicious, even if Sun Yat-sen and Chang Ruiqing know the risks, they will still swallow it without hesitation.

This decoy is almost six hundred tons of gold in Kolchak's hands!

"Mr. President. An urgent telegram came from our representative in Omsk. "U.S. Secretary of State Robert? Lansing walked into President Wilson's office at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.

President Wilson looked up from the pile of papers and looked at his secretary of state, who had a solemn look on his face: "Robert, how's it going?" Will General Kolchak's army soon become untenable? ”

Lansing nodded slightly at Wilson and found a chair to sit down. He sighed and said, "The situation is very bad, although the army that followed General Kolchak was nearly half a million men, in addition to nearly 750,000 Russian monks, noble women, and their children with Kolchak. However, they did not have enough weapons and ammunition. There was also a lack of necessary training, morale was low, and everyone was confident about what was going forward. Unless they can get enough supplies immediately, they can only retreat to the east****?? But where can they retreat? Or rather. Where do we want them to retreat? Mr. President, I think you should know. Kolchak still has about 600 tons of gold in his hands! ”

Wilson let out a long breath and said in distress, "That's a problem. This gold cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks! Then the gold would soon become Lenin's money for the liberation of all mankind. Nor can they let the Japanese themselves get the gold, otherwise their process of exploiting the resources of the Far East will be greatly accelerated. ”

"Therefore, the only way to do this is to let them fall into the hands of the Chinese people!" Lan Sin took over the topic, he seemed to be considering the choice of words, and said slowly: "Of course, it is not for nothing, we can ask the [Chinese] people to accept Kolchak and the more than one million White Russian refugees around him, and let the Czech Legion return to China through the [Chinese] country." ”

Hear the idea, Woodrow? President Wilson was stunned for a moment, and he looked at Lan Sing fixedly, his eyes behind his glasses motionless. Secretary of State Lansing smiled, and then said: "As long as the Chinese people accept the 600 tons of gold and more than 1 million White Russians, it will be difficult for them to reconcile the contradictions with the Russian Bolsheviks****??" Even if General Chang Ruiqing of the GCD of the [China] country became the sole dictatorship leader of the "China" country, he would not agree to return the 600 tons of gold to the Russians, right? ”

"No!" Wilson smiled coldly: "Even if he is willing to pay it back, it is estimated that he will not be able to pay it back****??" By the time he came to power, the gold would have been turned into factories, railways, munitions, and naval fleets, right? ”

Secretary of State Lan Sing shrugged his shoulders and said with a smile: "It is easy to lose a windfall, and we in the United States happen to be able to provide the Chinese people with what they want in the shortest possible time and at a very reasonable price!" And after they have these things, they will pose a serious threat to the hegemony of the Japanese Empire in East Asia! ”

There was silence in the president's makeshift office, and the two old American foxes looked at each other. After a long time, President Wilson burst out loud and laughed, "Oh God! It's the best foreign policy I've ever heard of in my life****?? Use the money of the Russians to win over the "China", and when they lose this money, we will earn another vote, and then let a slightly stronger "China" country go to the "Japan" and the Soviet Russia dog eat dog! ”

Lan Xin also laughed and said: "And the Chinese and Belarusians will still regard us as real friends!" ”

President Wilson winked at Secretary of State Lansing: "We were originally their true friends****?? Well, Robert, send a telegram to our minister in Nanjing, and ask him to propose this plan to Chairman Sun Yat-sen of China. Oh, and at the same time to sue Sun Yat-sen. The United States is willing to help China build factories and railways, and is also willing to sell all weapons and equipment, including battleships, to China. ”

****??

Nanjing, U.S. Legation.

Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching Ling now look very happy, although this dinner at the American Legation is not large. But it was very sumptuous, and Minister Reyns and his wife were also very funny, and kept telling all kinds of American jokes with Sun Yat-sen and his wife at the banquet. It was as if the whole two hours were spent in laughter. Moreover, neither the guest nor the host mentioned even a little official business, as if tonight's banquet was just a pure birthday party.

It wasn't until the last fruit of the banquet had been tasted by the big guy that Minister Reyns stood up lightly and bowed slightly to Sun Yat-sen: "Mr. Xi, Lord." I wonder if I can talk to you alone? ”

Sun Yat-sen was stunned, nodded randomly and smiled: "I also have this intention." Reyns bowed to Song Qingling and his wife, "Sorry, I'm sorry to be with me for a while." Then he took Sun Yat-sen to his office. The office was brightly lit, and the first secretary of the legation was already waiting there. He was still holding a notepad and a pen in his hand, and it seemed that he was preparing to take notes.

Sun Yat-sen and Reynes sat down separately, and the servants of the legation brought the mellow fragrance of *coffee. Reyns first took a sip of coffee, then took out a stack of papers from the office drawer with a smile and handed it to Sun Yat-sen: "Mr. Xi, Lord." Look at what I have brought you, the United States Government has agreed to lift the arms embargo on China, and has also agreed to sell a batch of war surplus materials, including ten and a half submarines, to the National Government of China. Ten flat-deck destroyers, one armored cruiser. A protective cruiser with fifty shore defense cannons of twelve to fourteen inches. One hundred and eight 155mm howitzers imitating Schneider 1917, thirty-six 1917 155mm long-range cannons, eighteen imitating British 203mm heavy howitzers, one hundred and eight 1918 3-inch anti-aircraft guns, and 100,000 shells of various calibers (including naval artillery shells). In addition, the U.S. government is also preparing to send an advisory group composed of experts in the steel, military, shipbuilding, mining and other industries to help China build its own heavy industry factories.

After listening to this large pile of "good" news, Sun Yat-sen did not get the slightest bit excited, but frowned slightly: "Mr. Minister, I and the Nationalist Government are very grateful to the United States for its support and help, we also very much need those weapons to strengthen our national defense, and we also need to introduce American technology for industrial construction, but ****??" What we need most is American capital! I don't know if there is any good news in this regard? ”

yes, the American stuff is good! Sun Yat-sen and the Nationalist Government wanted it very much, but they didn't have the money now! In order to maintain the civil war in the past few months and the expenses of more than 1.3 million national revolutionary troops, Liao Zhongkai, the finance minister of the national government, even had the intention of hanging! The gold that Chang Ruiqing stole from the Russians has long been wiped out, and the order of those newly occupied territories has not yet been fully restored, let alone taxes, and the imperialists have not been able to agree to increase tariffs for a long time (of course, it is not without progress, but it has not been done so quickly)****?? Now the situation can only be maintained by issuing bonds to the Bank of China in exchange for paper money. Where is the spare capacity to purchase arms from the United States? Not to mention any industrial construction.

Therefore, what Sun Yat-sen wants most now is actually a loan from a syndicate of American banks. However, Minister Reyns shook his head slightly: "The loan matter has not yet come to fruition, after all, our banks in the United States are private companies, and what they are most concerned about is the safety of the loan****??" They need a tangible mortgage. ”

Sun Yat-sen smiled bitterly and shook his head, it seemed that he was about to rejoice again, just when he was about to get up and say goodbye. A mysterious smile suddenly flashed on the face of the US minister, and he said: "Mr. Xi, although the banking industry in the United States cannot provide loans to China for the time being, the US government is willing to help the national government of China obtain a huge sum of money that cannot be returned!" That's about 600 tons of gold! ”

"What? Six hundred tons of gold! Sun Yat-sen spread his hands and laughed: "Mr. Reyns, you are really joking, how can there be such a good thing in this world?" If there is such a good thing, I'm afraid it won't be the turn of China, right? ”

Raines smiled and sighed, and shook his head slightly: "Mr. Xi, such a good thing is now coming to China!" And at present, in addition to China, only Japan and Soviet Russia are eligible to receive this huge amount of money! And the United States is the best friend of China. Of course, I hope that this gold will be acquired by China. He looked at Sun Yat-sen and strengthened his tone: "This huge amount of money is now in the hands of the supreme consul of the Russian Provisional Government, Admiral Kolchak!" He and his more than a million followers are now trapped in Siberia, and there are only three ways out waiting for them, one is to surrender to the Soviet Russian authorities****?? But that pretty much means suicide! The second is to take refuge in the Far Eastern Republic, which was supported by Japan. If Japan had not seized Sakhalin and Primorsky provinces, Admiral Kolchak would have chosen this way out. The third is that they have fled from Mongolia to exile in China, and if the national government of China is willing to provide them with political refuge, the US government can persuade Admiral Kolchak to hand over the gold to you. ”

Sun Yat-sen suddenly had a feeling of being stunned by happiness! That's six hundred tons of gold! It is equivalent to 500 million and I don't know if it is 600 million US dollars, if it is converted into a Chinese silver dollar, it will be about a billion, right? That's almost as much as the total number of silver dollars currently in China! If this huge amount of money is used to build heavy industry, China will probably have the industrial level of a second-class power within five to ten years, right?

As for the great mentor in Moscow, when he learned that the national government of China had accepted Belarusian refugees. What will be the reaction after "stealing" the gold belonging to the Russian people. The current Sun Da Pioneer is completely disregarded! In his eyes and mind, there were probably only piles of gold nuggets left.

He didn't think about it for long, then nodded heavily: "Mr. Minister, please tell President Wilson." Let's just say that the national government of China and the people of China will never forget the friendship between the US government and the people! We are ready to accept General Kolchak and his White Russian refugees and, of course, gold! ”

Minister Reyns smiled slightly: "The United States government and people will cherish your friendship, and General Kolchak will be very grateful to you for accepting him and his men in the most difficult time." But****?? Can you guarantee that the GCD people in the national government of your country will agree to accept the enemies of the Russian GCD? ”

The atmosphere in the office was silent for a long time. In the end, Sun Yat-sen nodded emphatically: "Mr. Minister, please rest assured of this, I dare not guarantee other GCD people." But I know very well the character of our permanent commander-in-chief! His love for gold far surpassed that of Marxism! ”

Reyns smiled with satisfaction: "Then please take action with the Nationalist Government, General Kolchak will not be able to hold out for long." I hope that you can open Mongolia's borders and start accepting refugees by the end of May this year. At the same time, it is necessary to prepare dry food for 1.3 million people and transport it to Mongolia****?? That's a daunting task! Furthermore. The representatives of General Kolchak also had to sign a binding agreement with the representatives of the Nationalist Government guaranteeing that the Nationalist Government of China would agree to accept all Belarusian refugees. None of them will be handed over to the Soviet Russian authorities! The United States will act as a notary public to provide guarantees for the agreement. ”

Sun Yat-sen thought for a moment, then nodded: "No problem!" Mr. Minister, I can also give you an additional guarantee, if we can get those six hundred tons of gold, we will use all of them for the purchase of equipment and weapons from the United States****?? And the Chinese market will also open its doors to the United States! U.S. companies can also invest in factories, develop minerals and open banks and commercial banks on the territory of China.

At this moment, Sun Yat-sen was completely dazed by the windfall of 600 tons of gold, and completely ignored how much trouble he would bring to him and China by accepting gold and White Russian refugees! And this trouble will even be fatal for him himself!

At this time, Chang Ruiqing, another giant of the national government, was also thinking about ill-gotten gains. Of course, it wasn't Kolchak Gold, although he had already thought about it, but he didn't think of any good way (the traverser is not omnipotent). So he positioned the object of making money on the group of rich and powerless, and pondered all day long about the old and young who wanted to restore the Qing Dynasty.

Bai Peony and Zhao Yigui were both mentioned in an interrogation room in Chang Ruiqing's headquarters this night****?? This is probably the original cell of Xu Haidao, and during the reign of Zhang Xun and Zhang Wensheng in Xuzhou, it was a secret prison for bandits and revolutionists, and it was also equipped with all kinds of torture instruments that made people look a little creepy.

Both of them were wearing shackles and handcuffs, Bai Peony's mental condition was better, and when she saw Chang Ruiqing, she knelt on the ground honestly and didn't speak. Zhao Yigui couldn't do it, and he didn't know if he was addicted to opium, his face was pale and gray, and his whole body was trembling violently.

Chang Ruiqing looked coldly at the muddy man in front of him, and ordered Long Qingxiang, Li Hao, and Meng Li to start interrogating. The three of them were members of the so-called "Manchu Anti-Revolution Group Task Force," and Long Qingxiang's official was the team leader, so he began to interrogate.

"Zhao Yigui, White Peony, you tell me honestly, who sent you to assassinate? Who are some of your comrades? (To be continued......) !!